If doing this activity as a demonstration for younger students, only one set of supplies/equipment is needed.

Each group needs:

• 1 wooden block ~10 x 20 x 2.5 cm; note: any size block works as long as it is bigger than the fuel block, described next
• 1 wooden block ~7.5 x 5 x 2.5 cm, as shown in Figures 1 and 3—the smaller wooden piece with holes drilled into it
• 1 3-inch no. 10 wood screw (round head)
• 2 1-inch no. 10 wood screws (round head)
• 3 rubber bands, all the same size and thickness
• several pieces of 3-5 inches of cotton string
• 2 lead fishing sinkers or similar weights, about 1/2 ounce each
• 1 pair of scissors
• 1 meter stick
• masking tape
• Newton Rocket Car Data Sheet, one per student
• building toys with wheels, such as LEGO^® or Tinkertoy^®, each group needs 4 wheels; alternative: if toy blocks and wheels are not available, simply place the Newton rocket car on four or five short cylindrical wooden dowels that are roughly ½ -3/4 inches in diameter and the same length as the car width; lining up these dowels under and in front of the car creates a relatively low-friction rolling surface for the Newton rocket car, allowing it to slide smoothly across the floor or desk

To prepare the wooden weight blocks:

• drill and bit; the bit size is determined by the diameter of the fishing sinkers or weights and screws
• vice
• screwdriver